Northumberland making changes in providing social services

Northumberland News

NORTHUMBERLAND -- The County has spelled out how it's coping with reductions in provincial funding for social services.

In a release issued Jan. 10, Northumberland County said the Province consolidated five former programs and benefits into the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHP), and in the process reduced its subsidies to the County from $893,348 to $625,364.

Under the new system the County has taken on roughly 2,000 Ontario Disability Support Program cases above the approximately 950 Ontario Works cases it has.

Staff propose to make up the loss of $267,984 in provincial funding with local tax dollars as well as add another $110,318 in new funding to support efforts that address homelessness.

All the proposed monies in the 2013 draft budget "will go directly to providing direct assistance to clients" and does not include any administrative costs.

To accomplish this, Northumberland is creating a single point of access to streamline homelessness services.

It will help minimize the impact of the provincial funding cuts and "result in a less confusing system for clients and more importantly increase the direct funding support available for those in need," it stated.